Republican contenders packed a Florence County event to make their final pitches ahead of the special primary to fill the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s seat, touching on the war with Iran, socialism in the Democratic Party, privacy concerns around Flock cameras, Senate rules, the national debt, energy policy, and rapid data center growth. The short, six-minute elevator-style remarks revealed clear divides on foreign policy, technology, and how to rein in big government while promising to protect conservative values.
The gathering was hosted by the state’s GOP gubernatorial nominee and ran like a political sprint: quick comments, direct promises and a lot left unsaid between the lines. Candidates used the time to tell voters who they are, what they’d do differently in Washington and why South Carolina cannot afford another year of drift and half-measures.
Darline Graham, appointed to serve out her brother’s term, leaned hard on service and experience and reminded the crowd she wasn’t running as a career politician. “I’m not a politician. I never wanted to be a politician. But like Lindsey, I have a servant’s heart. I am a hard worker. And yes, I have President Trump’s endorsement, but I know I have to earn your votes,” she said, underscoring local executive experience running a state agency. She argued the agency’s work shows conservative priorities in action: “We help blind people and people with disabilities get jobs so that they don’t have to rely on the government. How is that DEI?”
On privacy and public safety she didn’t offer a clean-cut position, instead saying she wanted to study the matter further before choosing sides. “I need to look into that one, because there’s two sides to that story. I know that some people are concerned about privacy and protecting their privacy, and I’m all for protecting the privacy of U.S. citizens. The other side of it is, if there’s an emergency situation that an ambulance can be called quicker, and it can save lives,” Graham said. “I’m going to be honest. That’s a hard one for me. So I want to look into it a little bit more.”
Rep. Ralph Norman pointed fingers at the Senate’s arcane processes and promised to break the logjam if elected, putting conservative reform ahead of tradition. “I will use my, whatever expertise I have to go to the Senate and force the vote, whether it’s blowing up the filibuster or having a walking filibuster or getting with the parliamentarian and changing some of these stupid, arcane rules that the Senate has,” he declared, signaling willingness to shake up procedures to get conservative bills across the finish line. Norman also pushed back on federal control of AI data centers, saying local communities deserve a say and voicing environmental concerns: “Do I think it’s bad for the community? Yes. Do I think it hurts the environment? Yes. And I will do whatever I can.”
Mark McBride broke with the hawkish streak in the field on the war with Iran, delivering blunt criticism of current policy and urging a rethink before November. “Y’all, there is something we have to address if we’re going to win in November,” he said, adding a simple command: “We need to end the war. We need to end the war now.” He doubled down on the need to recalibrate and bring troops and attention home to focus on winning elections and rebuilding conservative momentum.
Sam Shepherd, an inventor and entrepreneur, cast himself as a problem solver who knows how to navigate complex systems, even boasting of his patents as a sign of practical achievement. “I’ve actually authored more patents than Elon Musk. I have 44. I’m asking for you to bring common sense back to the government,” he said, pitching a technocratic conservative approach to cut red tape and inject efficiency into Washington.
Rep. Russell Fry framed the nation’s affordability crisis as the product of suffocating regulation and woke overreach, arguing that unleashing economic freedom is the way back to prosperity. He turned to the border issue with a characteristic jab at the Biden administration and a nod to Trump’s energy, saying in effect voters need leaders who are present and fighting: “You actually have to have a president who’s awake for more than four hours a day, right? We went from a president who slept for 20 and was awake for four, to a president who is awake for 20 and sleeps for four.”
Mark Sanford focused on the national debt and the long-term damage it does to American families and opportunity, painting a stark picture of fiscal decline. “We’ve got a federal government that goes out and spends money it doesn’t have, and then it turns around, and it prints money that’s not there,” he said, linking runaway spending to the erosion of milestones like homeownership for younger generations.
Mark Lynch argued for scrapping the filibuster and said he would reject foreign influence in his campaigns by refusing certain PAC money, staking out a rare position on Israel and finance in the field. His number one issue was sharp opposition to abortion, and he described hands-on efforts to persuade women and lobby lawmakers toward stricter limits.
Danny Ford II was the first to raise Flock cameras and privacy concerns, warning that surveillance technology and rapid data-center growth are being foisted on communities without meaningful consent. “It’s getting pushed straight down our citizens’ throats without any say so,” he said, calling for sustainable, community-first development that doesn’t leave a “stain on South Carolina.”
Glenda Gail Parker, a retired budget analyst, described a conservative independence with a different take on energy and climate risk, arguing markets and policy should push toward cleaner power. “And I do that by reducing our consumption of fossil fuels, and lower[ing] the demand for fossil fuels. In fact, today I want to challenge the oil and gas companies,” she said, urging those industries to evolve. “Those companies that are interested in longevity must realize that they are in the energy business, not the oil and gas business. And so I would like to challenge the oil and gas businesses to clean up their image.” She finished with a call for broader renewable use: “The U.S. needs to pursue solar, wind, geothermal energy and hydropower.”
Darnell Thompkins is a Canadian-born American and conservative opinion writer who brings a unique perspective to political and cultural discussions. Passionate about traditional values and individual freedoms, Darnell’s commentary reflects his commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue. When he’s not writing, he enjoys watching hockey and celebrating the sport that connects his Canadian roots with his American journey.